He's Wayne and I'm Antoinette. Since July 2010 we've been traveling North America, living full-time in our motorhome (see it at page bottom) with two rescued dogs. Our adventures are chronicled as a virtual retirement and travel memoir. Click a tab below to see our camping history, get answers to full-time RV questions, see our travel map, our dogs, favorite places and things we've noticed along the way.

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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

ABQ: Microsoft Lived Here

I didn't know this about Albuquerque!

A thief took the plaque!

Historic Microsoft Headquarters

Item excerpted from the Albuquerque Journal Business Outlook section, 14 September 2006: the circa 1950s building that housed the original Microsoft principals, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is for sale in Albuquerque NM. The piece states that the real estate agent in question is marketing the property as "owning a piece of history."

The text for the plaque planned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen at Linn and California NE reads as follows: "Microsoft Inc., housed at this site from 1975 to 1979, was founded here by Paul G. Allen and Bill Gates, whose passion for technology and vision of "a computer on every desk and in every home" led to the development of Microsoft's groundbreaking software. Paul Allen and Bill Gates would like to acknowledge the important role that the city of Albuquerque played in the company's early development, offering an environment that stimulated creativity and encouraged entreprenurial spirit." [Bill Boehm, 10/02/2006]

A plaque on a rock stands in front of the building where Paul Allen and Bill Gates got their start. Leaving offerings of old mother boards and floppy disks is uncool for the environment. In April 2012, police were investigating the plaque's disappearance.

In a statement, Paul Allen said, "I've got great memories of working long hours in that office, and Bill and I
were happy it was there as a way to thank the city of Albuquerque for its role
in starting Microsoft. I can't imagine why someone would want to steal it. If it
doesn't turn up, I'll make sure it gets replaced and installed in a more secure
fashion."

When the time came to leave Michigan's Upper Peninsula we aborted our plan to take the southern route and we opted, instead, to backtrac...

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In God We Trust

1st Region 101 Artillery Group

Air Defense Command

Auburn University

Class of 1972

CMA

Columbia Military Academy, Class of 1965

American Legion

Post #1 Birmingham

Who Are These Old People?

I just don't know about these two old people hiding out in our midst. They seem to 'hobo' along everywhere we go. Although I've never gotten a real close look, I caught a glimpse of her in the mirror. She is about my height, but is much heavier with lots of gray hair and wrinkles. He looks a lot like Wayne without hair.

We know they're here -- I've found their toenail clippings in the shower. Lately they've been putting food stains onto the fronts of our shirts and they never pick up any of the crumbs they let fall to the floor.

These old people really have some odd habits too. Sometimes in the middle of the night I hear them scooting around the house going to and from the kitchen and bathroom. They mark book pages with clothes pins and put rubber bands around the checkbook. At night they hide stuff from us. It started with the car keys, and glasses -- then the cellphone... now they're hiding important papers. They think it's funny I guess.

These old geezers have an insatiable appetite. As a matter of fact, all they do is eat, take naps and watch old movies on tv. I think there's something wrong with them. They even talk back to the tv! And believe me... they have an opinion about everything!

At least they go to bed early. But then again, they sure get up early too!